Theme of the month - Romance

Los Angeles - Dream factory for dream couples

Blockbuster romcoms like Pretty Woman or Mr. and Mrs. Smith melt the hearts of hopeless romantics all around the world. In fact, we probably owe our idea of romance more to Hollywood than to any other place. Couples visiting the City of Angels together will find an exciting metropolis waiting to be explored, where they can take a peek behind the scenes on set, stroll along wide sandy beaches - and play out their very own Hollywood love story

Dream factory for dream couples

Studio tours:Visitors flock to Hollywood Boulevard and to the legendary Walk of Fame, where almost 2500 stars honor entertainment industry celebrities and iconic movie characters both past and present. For a better insight into the workings of the dream factory, take a trip out to Burbank, a suburb of L.A., and visit one of the big studios there; Warner Bros. Entertainment offers perhaps the best studio tour, and with a little luck, you may be able to lay your hands on tickets there - or at one of the other studios - to see the live recording of one of the famous comedy or late-night shows.

Venice:Established as a town in its own right in 1905, Venice was incorporated into the growing metropolis of Los Angeles just 20 years later, despite vehement resistance from some of its citizens. The name and the idea of building a network of canals there were “borrowed” from a certain romantic city on a lagoon in Italy, but most of the town’s miles of waterways were drained in 1929 and turned into roads, while the rest fell into increasing disrepair. Not until the early 1990s were the canals and the footpaths along their banks restored. Today, the Venice Canal Historic District is again one of the area‘s loveliest attractions.

Venice Beach Boardwalk:The boardwalk in Venice makes the beach promenade there one of L.A.’s most famous, thanks also to the street artists, painters, musicians and fortune tellers who entertain locals and tourists alike. Amateur athletes also love the area, where lots of pathways have been created for inline skaters and cyclists, as well as numerous, well-frequented basketball, beach volleyball and tennis courts. On legendary Muscle Beach you can even heft weights beneath the open sky - like ex-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger before you. Best of all, of course, is the beach! A broad stretch of sand between the promenade and the Pacific runs roughly four and a half kilometers northward from here as far as Santa Monica Beach.

California Dreaming:You bet! The sand, the beaches, the endless ocean! Conditions in Los Angeles are ideal for surfers, kite surfers and other water sport enthusiasts. The beaches are also wonderful for bathers, but don’t be deceived by the subtropically warm air; water temperatures in the Pacific lie between 18 degrees Celsius in June and a maximum of 20 degrees in August. Which beach is the best? Find out for yourself! A scenic drive along the Pacific Coast Highway is a very pleasant way to explore Malibu, Santa Monica, Huntington Beach and all of the other main coastal resorts in the region.

Disneyland:If you’re dying to behave like a lovesick teenager again, then Disneyland is the place for you! The theme park, located in Anaheim, 60 kilometers south of L.A., is not just populated by a host of cartoon characters but also offers all the thrills and spills of a regular fairground. Some of the attractions are based on big movie or TV hits (like Pirates of the Caribbean, Finding Nemo and Twilight Zone, for instance). With a handful of first-rate hotels (some boasting excellent pools and spas) and several restaurants on site, the Magic Kingdom makes an enchanting place to stay for more than just a day.

Las Vegas:You landed in L.A. without a ring on your finger but plan to head home as newlyweds? No problem: Las Vegas, the glittering city of shows and gambling, is just around the corner by US standards. Take a plane and you can be there in around an hour, but if you have time to spare, rent a car and take the famous interstate Highway 15 right through the Mojave Desert for a genuine road-movie feeling. After 450 kilometers and (normally) four hours on the road, simply head for a chapel. Elvis, Starship Enterprise or maybe a pirate wedding? The choice is yours.